Overview
ISO 11999-9:2025 - “PPE for firefighters - Test methods and requirements … Part 9: Fire hoods” specifies minimum design and performance requirements and associated test methods for fire hoods used by firefighters exposed to high levels of heat and/or flame in structural firefighting. This second edition updates the 2016 version and harmonizes heat, flame and mechanical property levels while adding or revising tests (for example, resistance to evaporative transfer (RET) and size retention).
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard focuses on both design and measurable performance attributes. Major topics include:
- General design requirements: fit, flexibility, facial opening interfacing with RPD facepieces, yoke interface to turnout coat, sizing and labeling.
- Innocuousness: materials must not release known toxic, carcinogenic or allergenic substances (per ISO 13688 guidance).
- Seam construction and mechanical strength: seam bursting strength, seam and thread heat resistance, dimensional change and residual strength after heat exposure.
- Heat and flame performance: limited flame spread, flame resistance (surface and bottom edge), heat resistance, and heat transfer under flame, radiant and combined exposures.
- Particulate protection: barrier layer performance to inhibit airborne particles; includes normative particulate test methods (see annexes).
- Thermo-physiological properties: water vapour resistance (RET) to assess breathability and moisture management.
- Sampling, pre‑treatment and reporting: specified procedures for test sample selection, conditioning, and documentation of results.
- Complete fire hood tests: including opening size retention, donning/doffing and shape retention (normative annexes).
- Compatibility, marking and manufacturer information: requirements to ensure hoods work with helmets and RPD, plus required labels and user information.
Applications and who uses this standard
ISO 11999-9:2025 is practical for:
- Manufacturers and designers of firefighter hoods and integrated PPE systems seeking to meet minimum international performance benchmarks.
- Third‑party test laboratories performing heat, flame, mechanical and particulate tests for conformity assessment.
- Procurement officers and fire service safety managers specifying protective ensembles for structural firefighting.
- Regulatory and standards bodies aligning national requirements with international best practice.
- R&D teams optimizing materials (layers, seams, barrier treatments) to balance protection and wearability.
Related standards
This part is one component of the ISO 11999 series and references other standards such as:
Keywords: ISO 11999-9:2025, fire hood, PPE for firefighters, test methods, performance requirements, particulate protection, heat and flame resistance, RET, size retention.
Open preview (PDF)PPE for firefighters — Test methods and requirements for PPE used by firefighters who are at risk of exposure to high levels of heat and/or flame while fighting fires occurring in structures — Part 9: Fire hoods